Jack Kemp Chair in Political Economy

The Jack Kemp Chair in Political Economy is a distinguished senior research position in residence at the Library. Using the research facilities and services at the Library of Congress, the Scholar is expected to engage in research on an aspect of political economy and “The American Idea,” defined as the basic principles of equality, opportunity, and inclusion: that the proposition in the Declaration of Independence, “all men are created equal,” applies to everyone; that all persons should have the opportunity to rise as high as their talents and effort can carry them; that while all must move ahead, no one should be left behind.

The Kemp Scholar shall be chosen annually, subject to funding, by the Librarian of Congress on the advice of a five member committee. The scholar may be of any nationality. The scholar will conduct research that leads to a publishable book or article/s and that draws upon the Library’s collections, including the full linguistic, photographic, cartographic, legal, film and other resources, with special emphasis on the Jack F. Kemp Collection. Candidates for the Kemp Scholar position shall have demonstrated outstanding accomplishment in conducting and presenting research with respect to the American idea as it relates to political economy. Residential fellowships will be awarded for a period of normally 9 months, beginning in September, with a stipend of $13,500 per month.

The Kemp Scholar position is made possible by the generous donations of the Jack Kemp Foundation. At the initiatory event held July 14, 2010, the Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, said “Jack Kemp was a beloved and extraordinary American, who could be as inspiring on the podium as he was on the gridiron. We are pleased to be able to offer his papers for future research, and his family’s support for further scholarship through the Kluge Center will benefit the thinking world for years to come.”

The Kemp Scholar joins several other distinguished chairs in the Kluge Center. The Scholar is part of the Kemp Legacy Project within the Library, which also includes Kemp’s collected papers held in the Manuscript Division. The majority of this collection covers Kemp’s 18 years in Congress, including records pertaining to the Reagan administration’s economic agenda. The records of his bids for the presidency and vice-presidency are also included, as are those from his tenure as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Personal records include family photographs, coverage of his retirement from Congress, and remembrances of his life and work in the aftermath of his death. His writings and a large personal library are also included, along with photographs and video from his football career. For more information on the collection, see www.loc.gov/today/pr/2009/09-159.html